Exclusive Networks seeks own services identity with Passport

Launch of Passport support service brand a precursor to cloud push

Exclusive Networks claims resellers across the 20-plus countries in which it operates can now access continuous 24x7 support from the distributor following the launch of its Passport brand.

Backed by a European services centre in the UK, Passport offers resellers level-one and level-two product maintenance and support from seven of Exclusive's key vendors.

"If you're a reseller in France, and your call isn't answered within three rings in the local language, you will be automatically routed into the European service centre, meaning you will get continuous 24x7 support," explained Barrie Desmond, group marketing director at Exclusive Networks.

"Before this, we had little islands of support [in each country]."

He added: "This is a full, engineering-resourced technical centre, not a call handling centre. All of the calls are answered by qualified engineers, meaning a faster resolution outcome."

The seven vendors supported by Passport are Aerohive, Arbor, Fortinet, Infoblox, Palo Alto Networks, LogRhythm and MobileIron. All plug their level-three capabilities into the support centre as required by the customer SLA, the distributor said.

Desmond said Exclusive is treating Passport as a vendor in its own right and will use the brand as the platform for building out a cloud services proposition.

"We currently provide managed firewall services but over the next 12-18 months we will build out a fully fledged cloud services offering," he explained